Steam-motor car.



1 ATBNTED SEPT. 11..., 1906.

G. WAGENHALS.

STEAM MOTOR GAR. APPLICATION. FILED mus, 1906.

WITNSSES:

N9 830.940. PATENTED SEPT. 1},"1906. W. 'G. WAGENHALS.

STEAM MOTOR OAR.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 18, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: I l INVENTOR ATTORNEY D PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

W. WAGENHALS. STEAM MOTOR GAR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

W. G. WAGENHALS.

STEAM MOTOR OAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1906 4 SHEETSSHBET 4.

WITNESSES:

lNVENTOR nnrrn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WAGENHALSpOF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

STEAM-MOTOR CAR.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Sept. 11, 1906.

Application filed May 18,1906. Serial No, 317.601.

self-propelled car adapted more particularly for use on comparativelyshort railway-lines which are tributary to the main lines of a railwaysystem. For this use a car should be of considerable size and shouldhave a selfcontained driving mechanism compactly arranged, so as toleave as much space as possible available for passengers; baggage, andother purposes. The size of such cars neces sitates mounting the carbodyon bogietrucks which can move relatively to the carbody when the car isrounding a curve, and therefore provision must be made for sufficientflexibility to permit such movement in the devices for transmittingpower from the motor to the wheels of the truck or in the devices forcontrolling theoperation of the m0- Lor from the car-body when the motoris mounted directly upon the truck.

My invention contemplates the employment of a steam-engine to furnishthe motive power of the ear. one of the trucks to which the car-body ispivoted. Steam is supplied to the engine by a boiler located within thecar-body in a small compartment at the forward end, which, thoughoccupying comparatively vsmall space, is of sufficient size to provideroom, in addition to that re uired for the boiler, for the controllingmec ianism of the car and for the operator.

One feature of my invention resides in the arrangement. of the parts ofthe motive devices, more particularly the mounting of the engine on thetruck. four-wheel bogie-t ruck, and the engine is arranged between thetwo axles, as in this 'way space available for passengers and baggage isnot taken up by the engine. Though the engine may be vomiected directlyto the axle of the truck, I prefer to employ suitable gearing to effectthis driving connection.

In order that the engine may not be sub jected to continual jarring whenthe car is running, I provide a yielding support for the engine soarranged as to take up the vi bration while maintaining the enginealways in driving relation to the axles of the truck.

This engine I mount upon I Preferably I employ a In the construction Iprefer to employ the casing of the engine is extended at one end,

and bearings are provided in this extension for one of the axles of thetruck, so that'the entire engine can swing about this axle. The otherend of the engine is supported by springs, and therefore the entireengine can move to a limited extent independently of the truck, suchmovement being cushioned by these supporting-springs.

The employment of trucks which are pivoted to the car-body requires thatthe controlling mechanism be arranged to permit of movement of the truckrelatively to the carbody while maintaining the operative connections.Also the mechanism must be arranged to provide for such movement of theengine as is permitted by its supporting-springs. I therefore soconstruct the piping for carrying steam from the boiler to the engine asto ermit such movement while always provi ing a free passage for thesteam, preferably by inserting ball-and-extension joints therein; Alsothe lever system for actuating the reversing-gear is arranged so as tobe operative in 'any position of the truck relatively to the car-body.If air-brakes are employed, flexible piping may be provided for carryingcompressed air to brake-cylinders on the truck.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, which show the preferred embodiment'thereof, and in whichFigure '1 is an elevation of the forward end of the car. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the motortruck broken away and sectioned in part. Fig. 3 isa section of the truck with parts broken away. Fig. 4 is an end view ofthe engine, showing the s )ring-support therefor. Fig. 5 is a section ofthe truck, partly in diagram and showing the controlling mechanism; andFig. 6 is a top view of the mechanism for operating the reversinggear.

Referring to the drawings, the car-body (indicated by the numeral 1) ismounted on two bogie-trucks, one adjacent to either end thereof. Thebody is of considerable length and is arranged for passengers orbaggage, except for a small compartment at the forward end, in which arethe boiler 2 and, forward of the boiler, the controlling devices andsufficient space for the operator. The motortruck is preferably of thefour-wheel type,

IIO

. member 7 to a bundle of leaf-springs 8, the

4 the side frames 5. Suitable braces 10 extend ends of which entersockets in links 9, which are pivotally connected at their lower ends toacross between the side frames 5. Secured upon the upper edges of theside frames 5 is a bearing-plate 11 This is a heavy casting and isribbed to give it greater strength. The central portion of plate 11 israised, as shown in Fig. 3, and a central opening is formed therein.About this opening is an annular groove 12, Fig. 3, forming a bearingtoreceive the depending cylindrical wall on bearing-piece 13, which issecured to the bottom of the carbody 1. The axis of thisbearin is thatabout which the truck turns relative y to the carbody. Lateral swayingof the car-body is prevented by the side-bearings 13, which are s luredupon plate 11, as shown in Fig. 2. v ll be seen that by thisconstruction the carbody is yieldingly supported upon the wheels the caris rounding a curve.

of the truck and the truck can turn about its pivotal axis relatively tothe car-body when A more detailed description of these parts of the caris considered unnecessary, as they will be read- ,ily understood bythose skilled in the art.

' The-engine, which is preferably of the twocylinder type, is supportedbetween the two axles of the truck at one end by one of the axles and atthe other end by suitable springs. The cylinders (indicated at 14 and15) of the engine have the usual pistons adapted to reciprocate therein,and these are connected by connecting-rods 16 with wrist-pins17.,1nounted eccentrically upon disks 18. The two cylinders and thevalve-boxes therefor are built together in a single rigid structure;

ut separate casings are provided for each piston-rod and itsconnecting-rod 16 and disk 18, as, shown at 20, Figs, 2'and 3. The

. disks 18 are keyed on the shaft 19, which extends across between thetwo casings 20 and is -jouri1aled in suitable bearings formed in theadjacent walls of the two casings. The casings 20 are extended at theforward end of thetruck, as shown at 21 21, and these ex-v tensionsaresoformed as. to provide bearings imwi ich the forward axle 4 of the truckrotates freely. For convenience in assembling the parts these bearingsfor axle 4 are divided horizontally, the lower portions 22 being securedt0 the upper portions by bolts 23. In order to stiffen the construction,a heavy bar '23 is employed, connecting the ends of the extensions 2121. Between the cylinders 14 and 15 of the engine are the valve-chests24 and 25, which may be of the usual or any suitable construction, themovable member of each of these valves being reciprocated by eccentrics26 and 27, mounted on shaft 19. The connection between each pair ofeccentric's 26 and 27 and the movable valve mem- -link-motion of theusual construction.

ber actuated thereby includes a Stephei i slen 1s is best shown in Fig.5, from which it will be seen that eccentrics 26 27 are connected byrods 28 29 with a link 30 having an arc-shaped slot therein, the wallsof which are provided with grooves into which extend tongues on a block31, adapted to slide back and forth between the ends of. the arc-shapedslot. This block 31 is connected by a rod 32 with the movable member ofthe valve. The mechanism for effecting the movement of link 30 will behereinafter described.

Keyed on shaft 19 between the two pairs of eccentrics, as shown in Fig.2, is a pinion 33, which meshes with a gear 34, secured on axle 4, andby means of this gearing the power of the engine is transmitted fromshaft 19 no axle 4 and the wheels 3 secured thereon. Connecting-rods 35connect each wheel on the forward shaft 4 with the corresponding Wheelon the rear shaft, so that the power of the engine is applied to allfour wheels of the truck.

The bearing-plate 11 is so shaped as to provide adjacent to its rearwardedge a horizontal portion 36, Fig. 3, near the center of which is anopening. Secured on the plate on either side of this opening is astandard 37 Fig. 4, the upper ends of these standards be- 5 ingconnectedby a brace 38. The adjacent walls of standards 37 have vertical groovesformed therein, into which extend tongues on a vertically-movable block39. This block has laterally-extending portions 40 and 41, each of whichextends across the top of a bundle of leaf-springs 42 and 43, arrangedparallel to each other and having their ends secured to the plate 11. Inthe under side of block 39 is a socket formed to receive the roundedhead of a-pin 44, Fig. 4, the 'shank of which extends through theopening in plate 11. 'On the lower end of pin 44 is a similar roundedhead, which is received in a socket formed in a plate 45, which isbolted to the casing of the engine. It will be seen that by thisconstruction the engine is located be tween the two axles of' the truckand is supported at one end by one of the axles and at the other end bythe springs 42 43. These springs errnit movement of the engineindependent of the truck and take up vibration. However, the engine isat all times in driving relation to the axle of the truck, since the.

chests and connected by a ball-joint 47 with a pipe 48, which is in turnconnected by a ball. joint 49 with the pipe 50. In the pipe 50 is anextension-joint 51, such that this length of piping can be extended orcontracted as required by the movements of the truck, the parts thereoftelescoping more or less. The other end of pipe 50 is connected by aballjoint 52 with a pipe 53, leading up throu h the floor of the car andto the boiler. T e throttle-valve 54 is connected in pipe 53.andarranged in a position convenient for the operator. By this arrangementof the piping a free passage is provided for the steam from the boilerto the engine irrespective of the position of the engine and truck andduring the movements of the truck relatively to the carbodyand theengine relatively to the truck.

. The direction of rotation of shaft 19 is controlled by a lever in thecompartment occuone end of a rod 57, the other end of which is' adaptedto' slide freely in a ban er 58, se-

cured to the under side of the caroor. Depending from the rods 57 arearms 59, to which is secured a segment 60 curved about the pivotal axisof the truck as a center. Two

, parallel bars 61, extending one on either side of the segment 60, haverollers 61 journaled therein and bearing one on the forward and theother on the rearward edge of segment 60. The bars 61 are pivotallyconnected to a frame 62, the rearward end of which is pivotallyconnected to a crank 63, carried by a shaft 64, mounted for rotation inbearings 65, secured on the casing of the engine. ,Two crank-arms 66 aresecured on shaft 64 and extend horizontally therefrom, and to the end ofeach of these arms is ivotally connected a link 67, the lower end 0which is pivoted to a plate 68, secured to one of the links 30. Theshaft 55 is operated by means of an operatinghandle 69, secured thereonand extending up through a slot in the car-floor to a positionconvenient for the operator. Preferably a spring-pressed latch 70,coeperating with notches in a segment 71, is provided for holding lever69 in any one of its operative ositions. It will be seen that by movingever 69 rods 57, segment 60, and frame 62 are moved horizontally,thereby rocking shaft 64 and raising or lowering links 67 and links 30so that the eccentrics 26 and 27 actuate the movable members of thevalves controlling the supply of steam to the engine-cylin ders in thedesired manner. Also it will be seen that the employment of a segmentand the bars 61 operatively connected thereto in a manner permittingrelative movement is such that in any position of the truck relativelyto the car-body or while the truck is moving relatively to the car-bodythe operator has complete control of the position of links 30. Thehorizontal pivots 1n the connections to the reversing-gear provide forthe movement of the engine permitted by its supporting-springs.

The braking devices which I prefer to employ are illustrated in Figs. 2and 3. Extending between the side frames 5 and rotatable in bearingsformed therein is a shaft 72, on which are secured arms 73, pivotallyconnected to the piston-rods of pistons adapted to reciprocate inbrake-cylinders 74, mounted on the frame of the truck in any suitablemanner. Also secured on shaft 72 are two crank-arms 75, pivotallyconnected to brakerods 76,, extending the whole length of the truck.Each of the rods 76 is ivotally connected to the lower ends of linlis77, the up- .per ends of which are ivoted to the frame,

and on each of these lin s is pivotally mounted a brake-shoe 78. By thisconstruction the admission of air to brake-cylinders 74 operates shaft72, thereby moving brakerods 76 lengthwise and bringing the brakeshoes.7 8 into contact with the wheels 3.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is 1. In a car, the combination of a bogietruck, acar-body pivotally mounted thereon,

a boiler carried by the car-body, a steam-engine mounted on the truckand connected in driving relation to one of the axles thereof,connections for carrying steam from the boiler to the engine, valvescontrolling the admission of the steam to the engine, mechanism foroperating said valves, and means connected to said'mechanism andactuatedfrom the carbody for reversing the direction in which the enginedrives the truck in any position of the truck relatively to the carbody,substantially as described.

2. In a car, the combination of a bogietruck, a car-body pivotallymounted thereon, a boiler carried by the car-body, an engine mounted onthe truck between the axles thereof and connected in driving relation toone of said axles, springs yieldingly supporting the engine upon thetruck, connectingrods transmitting the power of the engine from one axleof thetruck to the other, connections for carrying steam from the boilerto the engine, valves controlling the admission of the steam to theengine mechaniSm for operating said valves, and means connected to saidmechanism and actuated from the car-body for reversing the direction nwhich the engine drives the truck in any position of the truckrelatively to the car-body, substantially as described.

3. In a car, the combination of a bogietruck having axles and wheels, acar-body pivotally mounted thereon, a boiler on said car-body, an engineupon said truck between an engine upon the truck supported at one endupon one of the axles thereof and connected in driving relation to saidaxle, supporting-springs, and a pin connected thereto and coacting withthe other end of the engine for yieldinglysupporting the same,substantially as described.

5. In a car, the combination with a bogietruck having axles and wheelsand a carbody pivotally mounted thereon, of a boiler on said car-body,an engine upon thetruck, a shaft driven by the engine, gearing be tweensaid shaft and one of the axles of the truck, flexible connections forcarrying steam from the boiler to the engine, an eccentric on' saidshaft, and a rod actuated thereby and connected to the movable valvemember of theengine, substantially as described.

6. In a car, the combination with a truck having axles and wheels, ofasteam-engine located between the axles of the truck, a shaft driven bythe engine, gearing between said shaft and one of the axles, aneccentric on said shaft and a rod actuated thereby and connected to themovable valve member of the engine, substantially as described.

. 7. In a .car, the combination with a truck having axles and wheels ofa steam-engine mounted on the truck between the axles thereof, a casingfor said engine, a shaft mounted in bearings in said casing and actuatedby the engine, gearing between said shaft'and one of the axles of thetruck, an eccentric on said shaft and a rod actuated thereby andconnected to the movable valve member of the engine, substantially asdescribed.

8; In a car, the combination with a truck having axles and wheels, of asteam-engine mounted onvthe truck between the axles thereof, a casingfor said engine, bearings formed in said casing through which one of theaxles of the truck extends, a support for the other end of the engine, ashaft mounted in bearings formed in said casing and arranged to bedriven by the engine, gearing between said shaft and 'an axleof thetruck, aneccentric on said shaft and a rod actuated thereby andconnected to the movable valve member of the engine, substantially asdescribed.

, 9. In a car,- the combination of a truck having axle s and wheels, ofa steam-engine mounted on the truck between the axles thereof, a casingfor said engine, bearings formed in said casing through which one of theaxles of the truck extends, springs supporting the other end. of theengine, a shaft mounted in bearings formed in said casing and arrangedto be driven by the engine, gearing between said shaft and an axle ofthe truck, an eccentric 011 said shaft and a rod actuated thereby andconnected to the movable valve member of the engine, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a car, the combination with atruck having axles and wheels, ofanengine'yieldingly supported on said truck, said support including a pin,a member having a socket therein into which theend of saidpin extendsand a spring supporting said member, substantially as described.

11. In a car, the combination with a, truck having axles and wheels, ofan engine yieldingly supported on said truck, said support including apin having rounded heads, members mounted on the engine and truckhaveing sockets thereinin which the heads of said of said members,substantially as described.

12. In a car, the combination of a truck having axles and wheels, of anengine yieldingly supported on said truck, said support includingstandards mounted on said truck, a-

9 I i pin are received .and a spring supportingone 1 block movablevertically and guided by said -standards, springs supporting said blockand means connecting said block with the engine, substantially asdescribed.

13., In a car, the combination of a truck having axles and wheels, of anengine yieldingly supported on said truck, said support including twosets of leaf-springs mounted parallel to each other on said truck, ablock sustained thereby and having a socket-therein, a pin extendingbetween said sets of springs and having a rounded head entering saidsocket and means securing said pin to said engine, substantially asdescribed.

1 In a car,the combination of a truck, a car-body pivotally mountedthereon, a boiler carried by the carbody, a steam-engine mounted on thetruck between the axles thereof and connected indriving relation to thetruck, flexible connections including ball-and-extension joints'forcarrying steam from the boiler to the engine, a Stephenson link-gearingcontrolling the admission of steam to the engine, and means actuatedfrom the car-body for operating said gearing while the truck is in anyposition relatively to the car-body to reverse the direction in whichthe engine drives the truck, substantially as described. v

15. Ina car, the combination of 'a truck, a car-body pivotally mountedthereon, a steam-engine mounted on the truck and con- IIO nected indriving relation thereto, means for actuating the valves of the engine,and de- While the truck "is in any position relatively to the carbody,substantially as described 16. In a car, the combination of abogietruck, a car-body pivotally mounted thereon, a .boiler on thecar-body, an engine on the truck connected in driving relation thereto,flexible connections, for carrying steer-n from the boiler to theengine, means for actuating the valves of the engine, and devicesoperated from the car-body and connected to said means for reversing thedirection in which the engine drives the truck While the truck is in anyposition relatively to the car-body, substantially as.described.

17. In a car, the combination of a truck,

to said axle, springs supporting the other end of the engine, and'meansoperated from the car-body for reversing the direction in which theengine drives the truck,- substantiallya's described.

18. In a car, the combination of a bogietruck, a car-body pivotallymounted thereon,ian engine on the truck connected in driving relationthereto,- reversin -gear for said engine and operating meansthereforineluding an arc-shaped member and a part connected but movablerelatively thereto, substantially as described 19. In a car,-thecombination of a truck, a car-body pivotally mounted thereon, anengine on the truck connected in driving relation thereto,reversing-gear for said engine, an arc-shaped member supported on thecar, means for reciprocating said memher, and devices connected to saidreversinggear and also connected to said member but adapted to moverelatively thereto, substantially as described.

This specification signed this 7th day of May, 1906.

ILLIAM G. WAGENHALS.

Witnesses:

S. O. EnMoNns, D. S. EnMoNDs.

and witnessed

